It is evident that the chill in relations between the two allies in recent years has diminished.

It was significant that Prime Minister Imran Khan chose Riyadh for his first foreign visit within four weeks of coming to power, thus breaking his pledge of not travelling abroad in his first three months in office. The warm welcome given to the new Pakistani prime minister signalled a fresh beginning and the resetting of a critical relationship.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have long maintained a strong strategic relationship. The two countries have worked together very closely within the framework of several bilateral, regional and global forums, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Their relations, however, hit an all-time low when the Nawaz Sharif government declined the Saudi request to send troops to fight in Yemen in 2015.

The decision, which had parliament’s unanimous support, not only annoyed the Saudis but also affected Pakistan’s relationship with other Gulf countries, some of whom publicly rebuked Pakistan for its ‘non-cooperation’. Although the Saudi royalty had good relations with the Sharif family, the incident strained personal ties.

Pakistan’s refusal to Saudi Arabia’s request for troops was a reiteration of its long-standing policy of not taking sides in the Saudi-Iranian proxy war in the Middle East and maintaining its neutrality in the conflict.

However, Pakistan’s strategic tilt towards the kingdom is not without its perils, particularly in view of the growing hostility between Riyadh and Tehran.

Pakistan must improve its ties with Saudi Arabia — while not getting sucked into the Yemen conflict.

Indeed, one major purpose of Khan’s visit was to seek financial assistance from Saudi Arabia to ease Pakistan’s external balance-of-payment problem and avoid going back to the IMF.

Pakistan urgently needs at least $12 billion to survive the crisis. The negotiations between the two countries are still on and it is not certain whether Saudi support alone can bail us out. But the Saudi rulers appear keen on investing in some big projects in Pakistan as part of their 2030 development vision that envisages forging closer partnerships with foreign countries.

Surely this vision also offers Pakistan an opportunity to push up its manpower export to more skilled and managerial levels, inevitably boosting its foreign remittances.

The close ties between Riyadh and Islamabad will provide more opportunities for cooperation within the Saudis’ 2030 vision. Saudi investment would certainly help revive our economy in the long term.

Saudi Arabia is the biggest exporter of oil and petroleum products to Pakistan and has been a key market for Pakistani goods and services. The kingdom, which hosts 1.9 million Pakistanis, tops the list of countries with the highest amount of remittances to Pakistan — over $4.5bn annually.

The fact that Saudi Arabia assured ‘maximum assistance’ to the new prime minister did appear to suggest that the two sides had reached some kind of understanding. Imran Khan declared that a new chapter in bilateral cooperation had been opened.

But there have been other factors too behind the trip. Khan’s dash to Saudi Arabia followed the meeting of the army chief with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (MBS) in late August.

The visit to Riyadh of the top Pakistani civil and military leadership underscored a growing strategic partnership between the two countries. Earlier this year, Pakistan had agreed to send an additional 1,000 troops to the kingdom. More than 1,300 troops were already present there for training purposes.

Both nations share strong military ties. Riyadh has traditionally maintained a closer relationship with Pakistan’s military establishment.

Despite the strained relationship between the two countries in the past year, the Saudi government’s ties with the Pakistani military do not appear to have weakened. The appointment of retired army chief Gen Raheel Sharif as head of an ‘Islamic alliance force’ is an example. Pakistan is one of the 41 members of the Saudi-led Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition.

Saudi Arabia has become increasingly militarised and interventionist under MBS, who effectively rules that country. The prince has involved Saudi Arabia in a bloody military expedition in Yemen against the Iranian-backed Houthi militia.

Pakistan has declared its neutrality in the conflict between Riyadh and Tehran, but there is strong apprehension that close military cooperation with the Saudis could push the Pakistani government into taking sides.

Saudi defence spokesman Gen Asiri has declared that the alliance wasn’t restricted to confronting terrorist organisations like the militant Islamic State group and Al Qaeda.

He said the coalition could, at the request of a member, move against rebel groups and militias posing a threat to member countries such as Yemen’s Houthis, which are supported by Iran.

Even if Pakistani troops aren’t physically involved in combat inside Yemen or in any other country on behalf of Saudi Arabia, there is always a danger of the country getting sucked into the conflict with the sizeable deployment of its troops in Saudi Arabia. That will have serious consequences for Pakistan’s national security.

It is extremely important for us to improve relations with Saudi Arabia. Close economic ties with the kingdom will open a window of opportunity for Pakistan.

It is a good idea to include the kingdom in CPEC projects and to invite investment in other fields. But it is also imperative that Pakistan maintains its neutrality in the conflict between Riyadh and Tehran.

Indeed, our relations with Saudi Arabia are immensely important. But it is equally important not to get involved in any outside conflict.

On DawnNews

Comments (43) Closed

brr

Oct 03, 2018 07:02am

There will be strings attached - why would anybody park their money in pakistani banks instead of investing? Clearly there is a "QUID" in this pro quo. And what has putting money into a MINE got to do with CPEC?

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Khaled

Oct 03, 2018 08:27am

There is no such thing as a 'free lunch'.

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Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Oct 03, 2018 08:28am

The government is expecting too much. No nation can bail out a heavily debt-ridden country!

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Babar Hussain

Oct 03, 2018 08:47am

Pakistan should have ties with Saudia Arabia based on mutual respect and not as its servant. Saudia must improve its approach towards Pakistan and its people and stop funding groups that are causing problems. Saudia prefers indian workers more than Pakistani. The number of pakistani labor force that is leaving Saudia shows the mirror to Pakistan

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dramjad

Oct 03, 2018 09:13am

Taking part in conflicts will be more devasting!

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Vik

Oct 03, 2018 09:24am

One more step towards bonded labour for the citizens of Pakistan but who cares as long asvthe rich rip the rewards

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Shah

Oct 03, 2018 10:00am

No Pakistani like to see pictures of bombed & dead Yemeni children filled with blood. In fact, no normal human would like to see Saudis killing those children with the help and support of US and UK.

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Sanjeev

Oct 03, 2018 10:20am

Pakistanis cannot distinguish between wishful thinking and the reality. Saudis have refused to participate in the white elephant called CPEC.

@Babar Hussain
Businesses hire employees based on their competency and capability in delivering results, not their religion and nationality.

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Marata

Oct 03, 2018 11:17am

Agree to you Sir G, this will once again instigate the dormant sectarianism within the country. Pakistan should remain aloof from the Yemen war.Pakistan should play his role as a mediator between Saudi and Iran, both are our close allies and trade partners.

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Fayzee

Oct 03, 2018 11:18am

We need to concentrate more on investment from our Saudi brothers. It will provide long-term benefits. And for the short-term, we should convince the Saudis to park a reasonable amount within Pakistan. The welcome given to our newly elected PM, shows that Saudis will help us out.

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confused

Oct 03, 2018 11:20am

Impossible.

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Nawaz

Oct 03, 2018 11:21am

Excellent analysis and piece of avice to the govt.

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Dr. Noor M Sheikh

Oct 03, 2018 11:51am

The financial management of PTI is confused. We are looking for short term bail out without any long term vision. It seems there is no home work done by PTI and it is going through the same conventional approach. I hope the slogans of Justice prevail and we do not go after money to support capitalistic vision of USA and Saudia.

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Just Saying

Oct 03, 2018 11:56am

As Pakistan has discovered with America and China, assistance always comes with strings.

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Fayzee

Oct 03, 2018 12:06pm

We need to concentrate more on investment from our Saudi brothers. It will provide long-term benefits. And for the short-term, we should convince the Saudis to park a reasonable amount within Pakistan. The welcome given to our newly elected PM, shows that Saudis will help us out.

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BAXAR

Oct 03, 2018 12:37pm

"Indeed, our relations with Saudi Arabia are immensely important. But it is equally important not to get involved in any outside conflict." We can re-write the sentence like this: "Indeed, our relations with a wealthy relative are immensely important. But it is equally important not to get involved in any of his problems, only mine should matter."

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Mohram Samejo

Oct 03, 2018 12:41pm

very nice and informative article relevant to FP of Pak...

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Halfis

Oct 03, 2018 01:31pm

News flash. Saudi Arabia is not joining the cpec

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Mohan

Oct 03, 2018 02:22pm

No, Saudis are not investing in the CPEC.

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Mohan

Oct 03, 2018 02:24pm

@Babar Hussain Saudi Arabia has the largest number of Pakistanis in jails outside Pakistan.

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jawaid

Oct 03, 2018 02:25pm

The Kingdom could become more rich and very comfortable place on earth, if it had stopped regular spending of billions of dollars on arms & ammunition. Also, had it stopped engagement in proxy wars in several countries.

It is in no big way helping the economic development of countries including Pakistan.

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Axion

Oct 03, 2018 02:33pm

Self reliance, Pakistan, self reliance, even if you have to suffer for a couple of years.
You CAN do it...

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parveez shafi

Oct 03, 2018 02:52pm

Difficult, but Pakistan Will not fight any one's WAR.

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ZAK

Oct 03, 2018 03:56pm

Pakistan is in between a rock and hard place here.

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Javed Iqbal

Oct 03, 2018 04:34pm

Perfect advice.

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usr

Oct 03, 2018 05:10pm

It is better to take KSA investment than Chinese investment. KSA will never take over infrastructure and territory in case of economic difficulty but Chinese will. KSA may forgive loans but Chinese will not. See examples from other countries.

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Biren

Oct 03, 2018 07:11pm

@Babar Hussain because in the past you used all the money in constructing beautiful govt. building, beautiful roads, foreign trips and in military and created a habit of not used to live with one's capacity, all to show supremacy over India. At that time we were poor, world made fun of our provery, roads, trains but we were busy in building institutions negotiating narrow and gutchy road, awkward buildings. We knew skill and knowledge will rule the world not false bravado. We provide our poor but skilled labourer to the world irrespective of religion.

However, the word late is not absolute, catch the train with right direction, take turn from the road that led nowhere in the past 70 years, world will be beautiful again. Don't see fault in SA.

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R Sultan

Oct 03, 2018 07:48pm

@Babar Hussain Agree,

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Sat

Oct 03, 2018 10:10pm

Pakistan has to remember that it shares border with Iran but not with Saudi Arabia.

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Khalifa

Oct 03, 2018 10:30pm

We should not worry too much about country's economic woes. Very soon, we will hear from our incumbent prime minister appealing to his favorite and beloved overseas followers to send him donations to manage the economy. After all, he did some thing similar for constructing dams. But many of his policies are exactly the same as that of Nawaz Sharif despite his toxic hate for him.

Do not be overwhelmed if you hear the slogan 'qarz utaro mulk sanwaro'.

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Magnanimous approach

Oct 04, 2018 12:18am

A huge Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 830,000 square miles , cannot be guarded by any alliance of few nations. Pak policy is symbolic, and its stragedic location cannot afford to take any sides, besides Iran is our neighbor and cannot be neglected. KSA fully understand its strength and increasing it gradually by buying drones from China, missile system from Russia,, and keeping multi- Islamic Forces on ground.
President Trump just asked KSA to pay more, for defence umbrella provided by US, yet a demand for more Oil output and reasonable price in list. The situation in ME is complex, needs immediate resolution of conflicts & ego, a senseless attitudes with Qatar must be settled, and talks for peace with Iran imminent.

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Ibrahim Mirza Shah

Oct 04, 2018 03:30am

@ZAK ...... Yes. Who to borrow from when Chinese funds run out.

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Asif A. Shah

Oct 04, 2018 04:44am

I hope that Saudi Arabia doe not make unrealistic demands from us in the future. We are already turning a blind eye to the Saudi Arabia's unsavory involvement in Yemen.

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Ghani K

Oct 04, 2018 05:50am

The worst scenario, Pakistan getting involved militarily in the conflict between Iran and Saudi kingdom. Can we afford to become a party to the conflict when our hands are full with our own internal and external threats.?

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javed

Oct 04, 2018 06:34am

Pakistan must not send its troops to Yamen or any conflict ridden areas.
Do not get sucked in Saudi conflicts, especially with Iran or Yamen.

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El Cid

Oct 04, 2018 07:56am

Erudite observations, somber analysis of the quandary Paks are facing, by Mr. Zahid Hussain. A serious dilemma that will test the maturity and wisdom of the Great Khan.

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Roshan Ali Shah

Oct 04, 2018 11:13am

Agreed. Common people of Pakistan wants peace and prosperity not conflict and crisis.

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Rajesh

Oct 04, 2018 11:42am

Now Pakistan will buy more expensive Saudi crude for the planned refinery. Iranian crude would have been much cheaper for Pakistan. In order to keep the US happy, Pakistan will not negotiate with Iran. What a tough situation for Pakistan.

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Dexter

Oct 04, 2018 02:53pm

What happens in Arabia should stay in Arabia :)

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Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Oct 04, 2018 11:19pm

The best policy for Pakistan would be non-intervention in the Iran-Saudi rivalry in the Middle East.

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Abdul

Oct 05, 2018 05:29am

Iran has never helped Pakistan overcome economic problems but Saudi Arabia has always provided hard cash and free oil to Pakistan.Nothing wrong in helping Saudi Arabia with a few men to fight her battles.